Federal Judge Orders Hunter Biden to Appear in Court for Arraignment on Gun Charges

Washington - Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, has been ordered by a federal judge to appear in court for his arraignment on three felony gun charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke of the federal district court in Delaware issued the order on Wednesday, stating that Hunter Biden "should not receive special treatment" and must be physically present for the proceeding, which is scheduled for October 3.

Lawyers for Hunter Biden had requested that the arraignment be conducted via video conference, citing the financial impact on government resources and the logistical burden of having him travel from California, where he currently resides, to Wilmington, Delaware, where the courthouse is located. However, the judge rejected this request, stating that Hunter Biden's physical presence is necessary unless there are "unusual circumstances."

The charges against Hunter Biden relate to his purchase of a firearm, a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver, in October 2018 while he was a drug user. The indictment alleges that he knowingly made false statements on the required firearms purchase form, falsely represented himself to the firearms dealer, and unlawfully possessed the gun during a period in which he was an unlawful drug user.

Hunter Biden's lawyers have stated that regardless of whether his appearance is virtual or in-person, he will waive the reading of the indictment and plead not guilty to the charges. They argue that conducting the proceeding via video conference would minimize the burden on government resources and the disruption to the courthouse and downtown areas.

However, Special Counsel David Weiss, who is overseeing the case, opposed the request for a virtual appearance, stating that an in-person hearing is important to maintain public confidence and address any unforeseen issues that may arise. Weiss and his team argued that the court has almost always held in-person appearances since the expiration of an order authorizing video teleconferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison. This is the first time Weiss has brought charges against Hunter Biden since being granted special counsel status. Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, has stated that they believe the charges are barred by an agreement made with prosecutors, recent rulings declaring the statute unconstitutional, and the fact that Hunter did not violate the law. They plan to demonstrate this in court.

This case has garnered significant attention, with Fox News reporting in 2021 that police had responded to an incident in 2018 where a gun owned by Hunter was thrown into a trash can outside a market in Delaware. The incident involved Hallie Biden, the widow of President Biden's late son Beau, who was in a relationship with Hunter at the time.

As this is a developing story, further updates will be provided.